Beastmen: She Tames the Land-Chapter 110: Trading with the Stone-horn people

After deciding on what to trade, the pack got busy. Foraging was at an all-time high. Because they knew that when the plants were dried, they would become less, they had to get a large amount of the plants to be dried.

The quickest way to dry them was to use the sun. So plants were placed on large animal skins and placed in the sun, where they would be turned multiple times throughout the day. After they were dried, they would then be beaten into a powder.

They ensured the plants were as small as possible. They didn’t want people to recognize what kind of plants they used in their seasonings. They made a variety of seasonings for people with different palates. They made quite a bit; however, they would not bring it all with them. They decided to only bring one of the large clay pots they had traded with the River Clan.

Based on the information Kaelen had gotten from them about their next trading spot, they knew they would be visiting the Stone-Horns, a group of mountain goat shifters. They were a set of people who enjoyed metalwork. It is also said they are not very good cooks.

The decision was made to only have three people go with the River Clan. Uri, Cato, and Kaelen, who had become a crucial part of the pack. His aerial surveillance was probably the best thing the pack could ask for.

The journey to the Stone-Horn people was very different from the journey the pack made to the caldera. It was also different compared to the journey from the caldera to the River Clan. When they left the all the places they saw were lush and green. The more they travelled, the more they saw the imposing mountains.

Even though it was summer, the higher they went, the colder the air became. The person most affected was Uri. He was already cold-blooded, and going from the heat into such a cool place wasn’t something he had expected. Nonetheless, he knew he had to make it work. As the leader, he wasn’t able to show weakness.

When they arrived at the Stone-Horn settlement, they noticed that they didn’t live in houses or mud huts. Instead, their dwellings were made from stone. They were carved out of the mountain itself. The place was hollowed out to contain their workshops, housing, and storerooms.

The River Clan, being familiar with the Stone Horns, didn’t see a problem with the way things were built. Neither were they fascinated by it. But Uri, Cato, and Kaelen were somewhat amazed. Kaelen, whose people lived on mountains, didn’t live in hollowed sections of the mountains.

Walking through the Stone-Horn camp, they noticed something different. The people on the mountain all had horns. At first, they thought it was a form of dress for the stone horn people. However, they slowly realized that the horns were actually growing from their heads.

This was something not even Kaelen had seen. The stone horn people were stocky. They had powerful builds and were broad-shouldered. The females were almost the same height as the males. They also had horns growing from their heads. Though not as thick as the males, they could still be seen.

Uri observed everything with a curiosity so strong his fingers twitched. He wanted to touch the horn and figure out why this was possible. As far as he was aware, females did not have any beast-man feature. Yet, here they were proving him wrong.

He was tempted to ask whether their females could shift. But as he surveyed the stone-horn camp and saw their silence, he did not believe it would be the best course of action. Rather than cause issues that might interfere with trading, he kept his mouth shut. He also warned Kaelen and Cato not to say anything.

As their delegation walked with the River Clan people, they were greeted by the Stone Horn leader, Gorn. Just like the others of the tribe, he looked strong and unyielding. He had a long, braided beard. His eyes were not welcoming.

"These are our friends from the Warm Pack. They hope to trade with you today," Mika, the leader of the trade team of the River Clan, spoke. "This is Gorn, the leader of the Stone-Horn people." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Gorn looked at them, neither denying nor accepting their role in the trade proceeding. After making the introduction, the River Clan walked away, finishing their introduction. They went to do their usual trade with the Stone-horns.

Seeing them walk away, but Gorn still standing there, Uri stepped forward. He didn’t mind the unwelcome eyes. He didn’t expect everyone to welcome them warmly as the River Clan had. He expected to face some form of difficulty.

"My name is Uri, and I am one of the leaders of the Warm Pack. This is Cato and Kaelen, members of our pack. We are here today to trade with you." Uri gestured to Cato, who was holding a small package filled with spices.

Taking it from Cato, Uri continued. "This is what we call spices. It is used to enhance the flavour of food. Make it taste better." He offered it to Gorn with his one hand.

Gorn continued to act as if he were a wooden board. His eyes, however, roamed over Uri, stopping at the missing arm. "You are a rogue. How do you have a pack?"

His eyes met Uri’s when he asked the question.

Uri’s eyes neither lowered nor wavered. He had expected such a question long ago. "I am strong enough to have a pack. I am blessed by the Beast God."

Gorn raised an eyebrow. The only change in his expression thus far. "Blessed?" He said no more. He shifted, then looked at Uri. "Fight. I want to see the rogue blessed by the Beast God."

Uri hadn’t expected to fight anyone. He stared at Gorn, who was challenging him. He knew he had to do this to earn the respect of the Stone-Horn people. He needed to fight if he wanted a chance to trade.

He handed the thing in his hand to Cato. He removed the large bag, which had been slung over his shoulder. He tossed it to Kaelen. He examined the area they were standing in. Realizing it was a large empty square and that people had left a large space for them to fight, he understood that this would happen whether he wanted to or not.

The next moment, Uri shifted.